Transcripts: Falcons vs. Seahawks

The Falcons and Seahawks faced off on Sunday, with Seattle coming out on top 33-10.

Head coach Mike SmithOpening Statement:“This was a very tough game for us today in all three phases; offense, defense and special teams. We couldn’t get into a rhythm offensively. We couldn’t stop their offense defensively, and we really didn’t do anything to help us on special teams. I do feel like our guys are playing hard. We just physically didn’t win the line of scrimmage today, on both sides of the football. It’s definitely not the type of football we’re accustomed to playing around here...a lot off disappointed people.”

On putting in the second string:“We’re going to play every game to win. We owe that to the guys in that locker room, we owe that to our fans, and we owe that to everybody that is associated with our football team. You only get 16 opportunities to go out and compete, and you want to win every single time you go out and play, you want to put your best players out there.”

On worrying about the playoffs:“We can’t worry about the playoff picture. The only thing we can worry about is the next day, tomorrow, and that is Monday when we get back together. We have to go day-by-day and get this thing turned around. We’re not playing the type of football that we’re capable of playing across the board. We’re not coaching well enough; we’re not putting guys in situations to make plays. When guys have opportunities to make plays, they’re not making them. That is why we are not getting the outcomes that we want as a team.”

On why he sent the starters back out:“We’re going to go out there and try to score every opportunity we can. That is the competitor in me, that is the competitor in this organization and that is the competitor in the players that are out there playing."

TE Tony GonzalezThoughts on the game: “It wasn’t very good, I’ll tell you that. They got us. They got us in every phase of the game it seems like. Defensively they came out and they stopped us. Offensively they kind of imposed their will on us with the running game. Special teams they got after us. It just wasn’t a very good day for us, as a Falcon. So, we got to go back to the drawing board. We’re not going to give up, that’s never the case with us. That’s not the attitude we bring to the table. We had a good week of practice. They just came out and they played better. I don’t think there’s any excuse that I can come up with; they just outplayed us in every phase of the game, and that’s what happened, wasn’t even close.”

On Coach Smith’s comments about every guy being accountable:“That’s what you got to do. It serves no one when you go out there and start pointing fingers. It’s important that you stick together as a team, don’t start playing the blame game because I’ve seen it happen before. That’s not good for a team. We still have seven games left, so it’s important that we regroup, understand that we have a long season and make sure we go out there and don’t play like that ever again, not this year.”

On trading jerseys with Seahawks Cornerback Richard Sherman:“That’s what happens when you’re an old guy, and they know it’s you last run. He said, ‘Hey, I’m probably not going to see you for a while.’ So he took the jersey. He’s on his way. He’s such a good player. I’m glad I got his jersey. I don’t know if that’ll be the last time this year, I’m sure a lot of people are going to be asking for my jersey as the season approaches the end cause they know this is my last run.”